Support Officer, International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development
Istanbul | Ankara | Bonn
- Organization: UNV - United Nations Volunteers
- Location: Istanbul | Ankara | Bonn
- Grade: National UN Volunteer Specialist
-
Occupational Groups:
- Development Cooperation and Sustainable Development Goals
- Administrative support
- Environment
- Volunteerism
- Closing Date: 2025-10-29
Details
Mission and objectives
The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme contributes to peace and development through volunteerism worldwide.
Context
The UNV Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (ROECA) provides oversight and strategic guidance to the UNV Field Units in the region and is accountable for the placement of UN Volunteers mobilized for United Nations Agencies, Funds and Programmes focused on peace, development and humanitarian needs. The UNV Regional Office represents and strategically positions UNV and brings UNV’s services and solutions closer to its partners from governments, United Nations entities, civil society, and the private sector.
Reporting to the IVY 2026 Secretariat’s Team Lead in the External Relations and Communications Section (ERCS) at UNV Headquarters in Bonn, Germany, and matrixed to the Regional Portfolio Manager at the UNV Regional Office in Istanbul, the IVY 2026 Support Officer will assist IVY 2026 initiatives across the Europe and Central Asia region. This role will focus on supporting Member States in implementing their national plans to promote volunteerism and maximize the impact of IVY 2026.
The United Nations Volunteers is dedicated to fostering an inclusive workplace where diversity is valued and respected. In alignment with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD), we are committed to ensuring equal opportunities for persons with disabilities by providing reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process and throughout the assignment. Reasonable accommodation refers to "necessary and appropriate modifications and adjustments, not imposing a disproportionate or undue burden, where needed in a particular case, to ensure persons with disabilities can enjoy or exercise their human rights and fundamental freedoms on an equal basis with others" (Article 2, UN CRPD). These accommodations may vary depending on individual needs and circumstances.
Reporting to the IVY 2026 Secretariat’s Team Lead in the External Relations and Communications Section (ERCS) at UNV Headquarters in Bonn, Germany, and matrixed to the Regional Portfolio Manager at the UNV Regional Office in Istanbul, the IVY 2026 Support Officer will assist IVY 2026 initiatives across the Europe and Central Asia region. This role will focus on supporting Member States in implementing their national plans to promote volunteerism and maximize the impact of IVY 2026.
The United Nations Volunteers is dedicated to fostering an inclusive workplace where diversity is valued and respected. In alignment with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD), we are committed to ensuring equal opportunities for persons with disabilities by providing reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process and throughout the assignment. Reasonable accommodation refers to "necessary and appropriate modifications and adjustments, not imposing a disproportionate or undue burden, where needed in a particular case, to ensure persons with disabilities can enjoy or exercise their human rights and fundamental freedoms on an equal basis with others" (Article 2, UN CRPD). These accommodations may vary depending on individual needs and circumstances.
Task description
Outreach, advocacy and partnership support:
• Support outreach to promote IVY 2026 with relevant stakeholders in the Europe and Central Asia region, fostering engagement with Governments, United Nations partner entities, civil society
organizations (CSOs), volunteer-involving organizations (VIOs), private sector and academia.
• Help adapt communication materials developed by the IVY 2026 Secretariat to ensure their relevance and impact within the region.
• Provide guidance and practical support to UNV Field Units in promoting IVY 2026 at the national level.
Coordination and implementation support:
• Assist with the designation of national IVY 2026 Focal Points by Governments in the region and support broad stakeholder engagement in and the effective functioning of the national committees they coordinate at the country-level.
• Assist IVY 2026 focal points assigned by Member States in leading the planning of national-level campaigns for IVY 2026.
• Help facilitate networking and experience exchange on IVY 2026 among external stakeholders, including governments, United Nations entities, CSOs, VIOs, private sector and academia across the region.
Monitoring, reporting and knowledge management support:
• Support the tracking and evaluation of the progress and impact of IVY 2026 initiatives implemented by relevant external stakeholders across the region.
• Help prepare reports, briefing notes, and factsheets on IVY 2026 based on regional and country experiences and lessons learned.
• Support knowledge management efforts by documenting and disseminating success stories and best practices and facilitating input by relevant external stakeholders to UNV’s Knowledge Portal on the International Volunteer Year (https://knowledge.unv.org/international-volunteer-year).
Expected Outcomes:
• National IVY 2026 Focal Points and Committees established by Governments in the Europe and Central Asia Region are well supported in actively leading volunteerism initiatives.
• Increased awareness and engagement in IVY 2026 by external and internal stakeholders.
• Comprehensive documentation of best practices, success stories, and lessons learned in relation to IVY 2026 are available to inform reporting and future initiatives.
• Support outreach to promote IVY 2026 with relevant stakeholders in the Europe and Central Asia region, fostering engagement with Governments, United Nations partner entities, civil society
organizations (CSOs), volunteer-involving organizations (VIOs), private sector and academia.
• Help adapt communication materials developed by the IVY 2026 Secretariat to ensure their relevance and impact within the region.
• Provide guidance and practical support to UNV Field Units in promoting IVY 2026 at the national level.
Coordination and implementation support:
• Assist with the designation of national IVY 2026 Focal Points by Governments in the region and support broad stakeholder engagement in and the effective functioning of the national committees they coordinate at the country-level.
• Assist IVY 2026 focal points assigned by Member States in leading the planning of national-level campaigns for IVY 2026.
• Help facilitate networking and experience exchange on IVY 2026 among external stakeholders, including governments, United Nations entities, CSOs, VIOs, private sector and academia across the region.
Monitoring, reporting and knowledge management support:
• Support the tracking and evaluation of the progress and impact of IVY 2026 initiatives implemented by relevant external stakeholders across the region.
• Help prepare reports, briefing notes, and factsheets on IVY 2026 based on regional and country experiences and lessons learned.
• Support knowledge management efforts by documenting and disseminating success stories and best practices and facilitating input by relevant external stakeholders to UNV’s Knowledge Portal on the International Volunteer Year (https://knowledge.unv.org/international-volunteer-year).
Expected Outcomes:
• National IVY 2026 Focal Points and Committees established by Governments in the Europe and Central Asia Region are well supported in actively leading volunteerism initiatives.
• Increased awareness and engagement in IVY 2026 by external and internal stakeholders.
• Comprehensive documentation of best practices, success stories, and lessons learned in relation to IVY 2026 are available to inform reporting and future initiatives.
We do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.
Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify.
Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.
Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.